Stackable Cup Lid

ABSTRACT

A stackable cup lid includes an annular base, a lateral wall, a straw opening, a sip channel, a removable tab, a plurality of connectors, and a radial rib. The lateral wall is perimetrically connected around the annular base and delineate the general profile of the stackable cup lid. The straw opening concentrically traverses through the annular base and enables to insert a straw for cold beverage consumption. The sip channel that enables the consumption of hot beverage traverses through the annular base. The removable tab is connected to a rim of the sip channel through the plurality of connectors to open the sip channel when necessary. The radial rib is internally connected onto the lateral wall and allows the stackable cup lid to engage and secure with a rim of a beverage cup.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a cup lid. More particularly, the present invention is a stackable cup lid that allows the stored beverage within a cup to be discharged through a straw or a sip channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A cup lid is an apparatus that can be utilized as a closure or seal for a beverage cup so that the stored beverage within the beverage cup can be contained within. Generally, the cup lid and a rim of the beverage cup create a tight seal to reduce leak and allows the user to safely consume the stored beverage. The existing cup lids are generally made from plastic material so that the cup lid can be somewhat rigid so they can be staked for storage purposes. Due to the popularity of different types of beverages such as coffee, soda, tea, juice, and other similar beverages, the disposing of these plastic cup lids increases the plastic pollution.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a stackable cup lid that is made from paper material. More specifically, the present invention is made from the paper material and configured with sufficient structural integrity to seal around the rim of the beverage cup. The present invention is also configured with a straw opening to consume cold beverage and sip channel to consume hot beverage. Resultantly, the present invention is able to provide solution to the plastic pollution that is creating through the existing plastic cup lid without compromising the functionality of the cup lid or changing the user behavior with respect to beverage consumption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention, wherein the removable tab is mounted to the inner section through the plurality of connectors.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the present invention, wherein the removable tab is removed from the inner section and the sip channel is shown.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention, showing a detailed sectional view that is shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view between the removable tab and the inner section, showing the plurality of connectors.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a cross section view of the present invention taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and showing a detailed sectional view that is shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the lateral wall of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a stackable cup lid that is configured to seal around a rim of beverage cup. Due to the fact the rim of the beverage cup is seal with the present invention, any leakage of stored beverage within the beverage cup and eliminated or drastically reduced. The present invention comprises an annular base 1, a lateral wall 5, a straw opening 11, a sip channel 12, a removable tab 14, a plurality of connectors 15, and a radial rib 16 as shown in FIG. 1-5. In reference to the general configuration of the present invention, the lateral wall 5 is perimetrically connected around the annular base 1 so that the general embodiment of the present invention can be delineated. The straw opening 11 concentrically traverses through the annular base 1 thus allowing the user to consume the stored beverage through a straw. The sip channel 12, that allows the user to consume the stored beverage by placing their mouth against, traverses through the annular base 1. The removable tab 14 is connected to a rim 13 of the sip channel 12 through the plurality of connectors 15, wherein the sip channel 12 is covered through the attachment of the removable tab 14 to the annular base 1. The radial rib 16 is internally connected onto the lateral wall 5 so that the lateral wall 5 can be engaged with the rim of the beverage cup through the radial rib 16.

In order to eliminate plastic pollution, the present invention is completely made from paper material thus providing a biodegradable product. More specifically, the annular base 1, the lateral wall 5, the removable tab 14, the plurality of connectors 15, and the radial rib 16 are made from paper material as the straw opening 11 and the sip channel 12 are holes within the annular base 1. In order to securely seal around the rim of the beverage cup and to protect the structural integrity of the present invention, a thickness ratio between the annular base 1 and the lateral wall 5 is approximately 1:2. In other words, the thickness of the lateral wall 5 is approximately twice the thickness of annular base 1.

The annular base 1 is generally a circular shape body to match the rim of the beverage cup and comprises an inner section 2, an intermediate section 3, and an outer section 4. In reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the outer section 4 is concentrically connected around the inner section 2 through the intermediate section 3. In other words, the outer section 4 is positioned atop the inner section 2 wherein the intermediate section 3 is positioned perpendicular to both the inner section 2 and the outer section 4. The lateral wall 5 is concentrically connected around the outer section 4 and extends below the inner section 2.

In reference to FIG. 2, the straw opening 11 traverses through the inner section 2 allows and opening to insert a straw so that a cold beverage can be consumed. More specifically, the straw opening 11 is shaped into a X-shaped thus delineating four wings within the inner section 2. When the straw is placed above the straw opening 11 and pushed downward, the four wings within the inner section 2 bent downward towards the beverage cup and laterally supports the straw. Resultantly, the straw is generally positioned perpendicular to the inner section 2 in such wat that the open end of the straw can be easily accessed by the user. In reference to FIG. 2, the sip channel 12 traverses through the inner section 2 and positioned in between the straw opening 11 and the outer section 4. The sip channel 12 is preferably shaped into a triangular shape so that the user is able to comfortably consume a hot beverage by placing the sip channel 12 against their mouth. Due to the triangular shape of the sip channel 12, a top end of the sip channel 12 that is positioned adjacent to the straw opening 11 functions as a vent and allows air to enter into the beverage cup so that the inside pressure of the beverage cup can be regulated.

In reference to FIG. 6-7, the present invention further comprises a first height 17 and a second height 18. More specifically, the first height 17 is delineated from a bottom edge 10 of the lateral wall 5 to the outer section 4. The second height 18 is delineated from the bottom edge 10 to the inner section 2. The first height 17 is larger than the second height 18 thus allocating the offset difference between the outer section 4 to the inner section 2.

In reference to FIG. 6-7, the lateral wall 5 comprises an upper section 6, an angled section 7, and a lower section 8 thus delineating the general shape of the lateral wall 5. More specifically, the upper section 6 and the lower section 8 are oppositely positioned of each other about the angled section 7. The upper section 6 is perimetrically connected to the angled section 7. The lower section 8 is perimetrically connected to the angled section 7, wherein an obtuse angle is delineated about an inner wall 9 of lower section 8 and an inner wall 9 of the angled section 7. The annular base 1 is concentrically connected within the upper section 6 and positioned opposite of the angled section 7 in such a way that a right angle is delineated about an inner wall 9 of the upper section 6 and the outer section 4 of the annular base 1. In other words, the upper section 6 is perpendicularly connected around the outer section 4 of the annular base 1. Then, the angled section 7 is tapered away from the annular base 1 to facilitate the connection of the lower section 8. The lower section 8 is then perimetrically connected around the angled section 7 and positioned opposite of the upper section 6. As a result, an inner diameter 19 of the upper section 6 is smaller than an inner diameter 20 of the lower section 8.

In reference to FIG. 8, the radial rib 16 is laterally connected to the upper section 6 and positioned adjacent to the angled section 7. More specifically, the radial rib 16 is laterally connected onto the inner wall 9 of the upper section 6 to facilitate the engagement between the present invention and the beverage cup. When the present invention is pressed against the rim of the beverage cup, the lower section 8 first goes around the rim of the beverage cup. Then, the angled section 7 and the obtuse angle guide the rim of the beverage cup towards the upper section 6. The radial rib 16 goes over and positioned below the rim of the beverage cup thus engaging the present invention with the beverage cup.

Due to the preferred triangular shape of the sip opening, the removable tab 14 is also shaped into a rectangular shape. In reference to FIG. 5, the plurality of connectors 15 is perimetrically interspaced between the removable tab 14 and the rim 13 of the sip channel 12 so that the removable tab 14 can be attached to the rim 13. When a hot beverage is about to be consumed through the present invention, the user can simply tear of the removable tab 14 to access the sip opening.

The present invention is preferably manufactured through a compressing and molding process of a circular shaped paper material. First, the offsetting positioning of the inner section 2, the intermediate section 3, the outer section 4, and the lateral wall 5 are formed through a top male mold and a bottom female mold. The bottom edge 10 of the lateral wall 5 is then engaged with a bottom curling mold so that the lateral wall 5 can be curled inward through the top male mold and the bottom curling mold. Then, pre-heated hot air is introduced into the underside of the current mold of the present invention before introducing a bottom knurling wheel to the inner wall 9 of the lateral wall 5. The rotation of the bottom knurling wheel and positioning of the top male mold then compress an inner curled section of the lateral wall 5 to an outer flat section of the lateral wall 5 thus delineating the radial rib 16. Pre-heated hot air is then introduced to the underside of the current mold of the present invention after the removable of the bottom knurling wheel. A bottom stacking forming mold is then rotated against the inner wall 9 of the lateral wall 5, wherein the top male mold stays stationary. The upper section 6, the angled section 7, and the lower section 8 are then delineated within the lateral wall 5 thus completing the manufacturing process of the present invention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A stackable cup lid comprising: an annular base; a lateral wall; a straw opening; a sip channel; a removable tab; a plurality of connectors; a radial rib; the lateral wall being perimetrically connected around the annular base; the straw opening concentrically traversing through the annular base; the sip channel traversing through the annular base; the removable tab being connected to a rim of the sip channel through the plurality of connectors; the radial rib being internally connected onto the lateral wall; the lateral wall comprising an upper section, an angled section, and a lower section; the upper section and the lower section being oppositely positioned of each other about the angled section; the upper section being perimetrically connected to the angled section; the lower section being perimetrically connected to the angled section; the annular base being concentrically connected within the upper section, opposite of the angled section; wherein an inner diameter of the upper section is smaller than an inner diameter of the lower section; the radial rib being laterally connected to and internally connected onto the upper section; the radial rib being positioned adjacent to the angled section; the annular base comprising an inner section, an intermediate section, and an outer section; the outer section being concentrically connected around the inner section through the intermediate section; the lateral wall being concentrically connected around the outer section; the intermediate section being positioned perpendicular to both the inner section and the outer section; a first height being delineated from a bottom edge of the lateral wall to the outer section; a second height being delineated from the bottom edge to the inner section; the first height being larger than the second height; and a thickness ratio between the annular base and the lateral wall being approximately 1:2.
 2. The stackable cup lid as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the straw opening traversing through the inner section; the sip channel traversing through the inner section; and the sip channel being positioned in between the straw opening and the outer section.
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. The stackable cup lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein an obtuse angle is delineated about an inner wall of lower section and an inner wall of the angled section.
 8. The stackable cup lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein a right angle is delineated about an inner wall of upper section and the outer section of the annular base.
 9. The stackable cup lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors being perimetrically interspaced between the removable tab and the rim.
 10. The stackable cup lid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular base, the lateral wall, the removable tab, the plurality of connectors, and the radial rib are made from paper material.
 11. (canceled) 